Free Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2) by Aaron Thomas Page A

Tell me what to do,” Kara said, holding the flames as close to Twilix as
she could without hurting the wizard.
    Twilix took a
drink from a water skin and slowly answered as her eyes started to close.
“Wizard Parker will be here soon to help. Do as he says and all will be well.
He has done this before.” Her voice trailed off as she fell into
unconsciousness.
    She wanted to
scream for help but found no moisture in her throat. She had never been alone
with someone like this before. Kara started to panic. Her heart raced and her
mind went in different directions of scenarios of what could happen as she
stood there, holding flames near the water wizard. She increased the size of
the flame in an attempt to wake Twilix, or at least keep her thawed. Soon she
felt something hit her shoulder. She turned to see Wizard Parker throwing rocks
at her.
    She lowered the
flames back to where they were, but it did nothing to sooth her panic. The
wizard stepped inside, shielding his face from the smoke coming from the ruins
of a burning tent roof. Water sprayed over the top, drenching the three wizards
and nearly extinguishing Kara’s flames. One of her guards put out the fire that
was eating holes in the canvas roof.
    “Kara, she
doesn't need an oven, she just needs to be warm. Just keep your flames about
the size of those in a hearth at your home,” Brandon said while standing well
outside the flames.
    Kara adjusted
the flames and took a step back so Brandon could examine her. He had never
spoken to her before. He had always stood off to the the side of the training
grounds while she battled with Twilix or one of the water wielders standing
guard.
    Wizard Parker’s
touch seemed to help make Twilix more comfortable. Her breathing became deep,
and color returned to her skin. She was sleeping, and that helped Kara relax.
    “Kara, we have a
long road ahead of us. I need to know right now if you are truly in control of
that flame. If you have any doubt about your control over your emotions I need
you to tell me now,” Wizard Parker said. His voice was calm as he continued to
examine Twilix. He didn’t even turn to look at Kara.
    “I am in
control, but how can I help?” she said pleadingly.
    He finally
looked at Kara, still standing close, holding flames in both hands. He stood and
put his hand on her shoulder.
    “You are already
doing it,” he said caringly. “Just keep her warm. Keep her blood from freezing
in her veins, that is all.” He said it as if it was a small and simple task.
Perhaps he saw the terror in her eyes. “I will have the hard part after all. I
will have to return here a few times a day to help her body heal. If we are
lucky, this growth will be complete in a few days. If not, well, we will do
what we must. You are the only fire wizard here in control of their powers. So
you are her only chance at staying alive. Keep her alive, Kara, because at the
end of this I will have to make a report to the King. I would like it to say
you were able to save her, instead of the alternative.”
    He held up the
tent flap to leave and Kara stopped him, “Wait. She was telling me about aging
and she didn’t get to finish.”
    Wizard Parker
smiled at her, “She will finish when she wakes. I think that you should have
had a pretty good lesson in wizard aging by the time she is finished. Just keep
her warm and get rest when you can. The more rest you get, the less taxing it
will be on me. I will have some food and water brought in to help keep your
strength up.” He smiled and let the tent flap fall closed.
    She was, again, left alone with
books of instruction that she couldn’t practice, but now with good reason.

Chapter 4 - The Magic Word
     
     
      The ground was
covered with dew and the birds chirped amongst the trees. So far the morning
was cool, but by midday Kilen was sure it would be stifling. He had slept well,
almost too well. He took a moment to remember where he was and the tasks that
he had at hand. Kilen